Drug interactions
Diphenoxylate + Sevoflurane
Severity: Moderate
Diphenoxylate and Sevoflurane: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Diphenoxylate is an opioid antidiarrheal that can cause CNS and respiratory depression, especially in overdose or in children. It may add to the sedative effect of sevoflurane.
What this interaction means in plain words
Diphenoxylate and Sevoflurane can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Diphenoxylate belongs to Gastrointestinal Tract; Sevoflurane belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression through mu-opioid receptor agonism.
What to do
Monitor sedation and respiratory rate during anesthesia and recovery, and reduce anesthetic doses if the patient is drowsy.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Diphenoxylate and Sevoflurane, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 7 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Sevoflurane
Other interactions of Diphenoxylate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Diphenoxylate with Sevoflurane?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Diphenoxylate and Sevoflurane can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Diphenoxylate is an opioid antidiarrheal that can cause CNS and respiratory depression, especially in overdose or in children. It may add to the sedative effect of sevoflurane.
How serious is the interaction between Diphenoxylate and Sevoflurane?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor sedation and respiratory rate during anesthesia and recovery, and reduce anesthetic doses if the patient is drowsy.
What other medicines interact with Sevoflurane?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Sevoflurane with, for example, Amiodarone, Amisulpride, Arsenic trioxide. The full list is on the Sevoflurane page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
